Centennial Valley Eastern Kingbird adultCentennial Valley Eastern Kingbird adult – Nikon D810, f9, 1/800, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Mountain Bluebirds and this Centennial Valley Eastern Kingbird were the first two bird species I photographed on this trip to Montana and Idaho. The Mountain Bluebirds I photographed were already feeding young in the nest boxes along the road and I hope that the valley doesn’t get a long cold snap now because that could mean the demise of the first broods, last year that happened and the bluebirds re-nested.

When I spotted this Eastern Kingbird on the barbed wire fence I didn’t think it would stick around long enough to get images of it but it did and not only that but it actually flew in close enough for me to get frame filling images of it using full frame (FX) mode on my D810. I was pleased!

I didn’t see any other Eastern Kingbirds nearby so perhaps this bird hasn’t found a mate yet.  But that probably won’t be an issue for long.

All the birds seem to have found a mate, have a mate on eggs, have a mate with chicks or are searching for one right now. I sure can tell it is breeding season!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Eastern Kingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.